Switch-interlocking mechanism.



APPLICATION FILED DBO. 30. 1905.

. view of the vertical plunger.

Y properly closed.

UNITED s-TATEsq PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK C. ANDERSON. OF CINCINNATI.y OHIO. AssICNORTO THE AMERICAN VALVE a `METER COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI. OHIO, A CORPORATION OF wEsT VIRGINIA.

swlTCH-lNTERLOOKING MEOHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented Dec. 25,1906.

i Application filed December 30,1905.y Serial No. 293,975.

a citizen, of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and.

State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Interlocking Mechanism, of which the following is a specificationi.y l

My invention relates to means for insuring safety in the use of railway-switches, the object being to render it impossible to lock a switch until the point-rail has been broughtl against the stock-rail.

My. invention consists of the combination, with a switch-stand, of -a plunger adapted for entering an opening in an interlockingbar in said switch-stand when the switch is properly closed and of a connection to said plunger so arranged as to prevent the locking of said switch-'stand when the switch is not My Invention also consists of the parts and combination and arrangement of parts as set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of a switch and stand having my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the interlocking-bar. Fig. 3 is .an elevation of the elbow. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modiiication of the elbow. Fig. 5 is a cross- .section of the switch-stand. i Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the bell-crank. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the horizontal plungeread. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the lug. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the orlzontal plunger. Fig. 10 is a perspective Fig. 1,1 is a vertical section on the line of Fig. 1. Fig. 12 is a similar View of the lswitch-stand in unlocked position. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the connecting-rod. Fig. 14 isa perspective view of the connecting-rod head.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view ofthe shield.

I prefer to construct my improved` switchinterlocking mechanism as follows: The switch-stand 1 has the top plate 2 and vertical shaft 3, which is connected, by means of 8, which is hinged vertically at 9 and has theM the crank 4 and bars 5 and 6, to the point-` rail 7. ofthe switch. The shaft 3 is rotated to throw-the switch by means of the handle lug 10, adapted to engage within the slots 11 or 12 to hold the switch open or closed. The

lug 10 has an opening 13, so that a lock 14 may be used to secure it in the desired position. Contiguous to theslot 11 is an opening 15, through which the vertical plunger 16 may extend upwardly and engage the handle 8. This lplunger 16 is supported by the el`- bow 17, into which fits loosely, the elbow 6c 17 being supported on the upper end of the connecting-rod 18. A housing 19 of suitable 'I form is supported on` the base 20 of the .switch-stand 1, and a bell-crank 21 is journaled horizontally therein on the pin 22. A 6 5 head 23 on the lower end of the connectingrod 18 is pivoted to one of the arms 24 of the bell-crank 21, and the horizontal plunger 25 is screwed into another head 26, which head is pivoted to the other arm 27 of the bell- 7c crank 21. The connecting rod 18 has a sliding bearing 28 in the top of the housing 19, and the plunger 25 has'a vsimilar bearing 29 in a rib 30 of the housing 19. The movement of the mechanism is limited inone direction by the shoulder 31 On the plunger 16 engagingV the lower side of the top plate 2. and in the other direction by the shoulder 321on the plunger 25 engaging the rib 30. Between the rib 30 and the head 26 is interposed'the 8o spring- 33, coiled aroundl the plunger 25.

Theinterlocking-bar 34k is slidably mounted in the'portion 35 of the housing 19 and is bent downward at 36 andsuitably connected to the dog 37, which embraces the guard 38 8 5 on thepoint-rail 7. This interlocking-bar 34 has an opening 39 at suoli `a point and of Asuch shape that the plunger 25 can enter it .throws the handle 8 upward andl draws the Ioo plunger 25 out of the opening 39, permitting the switch to be opened.

In order to allow my invention to be used on a switch-stand in either right or left position, a second opening 41 is provided contigu- 1 o5` ous to the slot 12 in the top plate2 and a se'cond opening 42 is provided in the interlocking bar 34. Then the elbow 17 may be swung varound on the connecting-rod 18, so that the plunger 16 mayenter the opening 41. The opening 42 in the interlocking-bar 34, however, is placed a greater distance from the opening 39 than the throw oi the switch amounts to in order that the switch may not be locked open, and in order to adapt my invention for both right and left' positions I further provide the turnbuckle 43 in the connection between the interlockingbar 34 and the dog 37, thus making it possible to adjust the interlocking-bar 34 so that the opening 42 will be in the proper position to receive the plunger 25 when the right- `hand switch is closed. This of course would throw the opening 39 out of position, rendering it impossible to lock the switch in the opposite position. l

Where it is desirable that the switch may be interlocked'in either open or closed position, as is the 'case at the end of a double track or crossover,a modiiication 17 a of the elbow' 17 may be used, having the two arms 44 and 45, each of which would carry a plun- `ger like the plunger 16, extending into both the openings 15 and'41. When theabove modilication is used, the openings 39and 42 in the interlocking-bar 34 are placed va distance' apart equal to the throw of the switch, thusallowing the plunger 25 to enter one'oi them'when the switch is either in open or closed position and permit the handle 8 to be locked into Aeither position. `Where it is deemed necessary to prevent the locking of the switch in either one of the positions, I provide a shield 46 to be fastened adjacent to one of the slots by means of -bolts passing through lholes 47 in the top plate 2 and holes 48"'in the shield-closing hole 13 in handle 8 to prevent inserting of padlock 14 or other means. In order to facilitate the removal of the plunger 16 from the elbow 17 or its adjustment therein, I` prefer to supportit by means of the 'plug 49, screwed into the elbow 17 under the plunger 16. The adjustment vof' the plunger 16 by plug 49 takes up-any wear causing lostmotion in the interlocking mechanism `between the operating-handle of the switch-stand and interlocking-bar. The holes 50 and51 in the'crank-arms 24 and 27 'are sufficiently larger than the pins 52 and53 tion-such, for instance, as the falling out l or intentional removal of the pin 56 in the l rods 5 and 6. In either case the interlockving-bar would not be moved into a position allowing the plunger 25 to enter the opening 39 or 42, as the case might be, and in the latter instance the switch could be operated temporarily by means of the interlocking-bar 34. For this 4purpose I provide the handle 57 on the end thereof. I also provide a guide 58 for said bar, which guide is secured to the cross-tie 59, as shown. The casing 19 is secured to the base 2O by means of bolts 60 passing through the holes 61 in the base.

While I have shown anddescribed a peculiar construction herein, I 'do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to it but What I desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s- 1. In a switch-interlockingmechanism., an interlocking-bar connected to the point-rail of a switch and having an opening in said bar, a'plunger adapted to enter said. opening, a bell-crank adapted to throw said plunger,a connecting-rod adaptedto actuatesaid bellcrank, an operating-'handle and means forengaging said handle and connecting-rod toengageor disengage said 'plunger and 'interlocking-bar.

2. In'a switch-interlocking mechanisni,an interlocking-b ar having an openingen' operating-handle, an adjustable'p'lunger engaging said handle, a plunger adapted to' engage lwithin said opening and a connection between said plungers whereby said handlecannotl be secured stationary except'\`vlien said 'plunger is 'in said'opening.

3. In a switch-interlocking'mechanism the combination with a switch-stand having a vertical shaft and a vvertically-disengageable handle, of a vertical plunger, 'a connecting- 'rod operatively connected to said plunger, a

casing in which said connecting-rod'is slidab'ly mounted, a bell-crankmounted in said casing and pivotally connected to said'connectingrod, a'horizontal 'plungerpivotally'connected to said bell-crank' and slidably -1nounted in said'casing, a spring acting to hold'said vertical plunger against said handle andan linterlocking-barconnected to the point-rail of a switch andhaving anopening adapted toadmit said horizontal plunger substantiallyas and for the pur )ose speciiied.

4. In a switc '-interlocking'mechanism the combination with a switch-stand having a vertical shaft4 and a vertically-disengagcable handle'and'means for locking said handle, of a vertical plunger engaging said handle, a supporting elbow therefor, a connecting rod upon which said elbow is pivotally supported,

a casing in which said connecting-rod is slidably mounted, a bell-crank mounted in said casing, aliorizontal yplunger slidab'lymounted in` said casing, pivotal connection between said 'bell-cranI and said connecting-rodand between said bell-crank and said: horizontal plunger, an interlocking-bar slidablymountlOO IOS

IIO

ed in said casing having an opening, a connection between said interlocking-bar .and the point-rail of a Switch whereby said opening is adapted to receive Said horizontal plunger only when said point-rail is in properly-closed position, a top plate on said switch-stand aving openings 'adapted to receive said handle and o enings adjacent thereto through which sai vertical plunger may engage said handle substantially as and for the purpose speciiied. v

5. In a switch-interlocking mechanism, an interlocking-bar having an opening, an operating-handle, a plunger engaging Said handle,

a plunger engaging Within said openin and a connection between said plungers w ereby said handle cannot be secured stationary eX- cept when said plunger is in said o ening.

FRANK C. AND RSON.' Witnesses:

JAMES N.y RAMSEY, n NANNIE J NEWMIRE; 

